Anyone else talking RACING?! <--- of the motorcycle type

Is the Duc that dramatically different than when Stoner was riding it? Or was Stoner just that much of a better rider?otstir:

 

Custom tires, steel trellis when it worked right. Every year on the Ducati Stoner got worse, it was spiraling downward when he was of it also.

 

Stoner won the championship in 2007, which was the first year of the 800cc era. Ducati had a fast bike that year. They seemed to get a jump on other manufacturers and had a lighter, more powerful bike. I believe this was the first year Ducati used the desmodronic valves (hydraulically actuated I think), which apparently produced a lot more power than the competitor’s engines which were running conventional valves, but more importantly the desmo valve system was a lot more efficient. So, Ducati could burn the same or less amount of fuel as the other bikes but make more power. I recall the first race in Qatar in 2007 everybody was shocked the Ducati didn’t run out of fuel.

Another factor in 2007, which may have actually been more important, is that when Stoner won the championship with Ducati in 2007 they were running Bridgestone tires. The Yamaha and Honda teams were running Michelin's which they were having all kinds of problems with. Every bike now runs Bridgestones of course.

Now, Ducati went and got way too fancy. They left the steel trellis frame and have gone with a carbon fibre frame which has been a disaster. I think they even tried carbon fibre forks at one point. According to Rossi, in his two years at Ducati they were never able to get enough grip out of the front end. The front end problems are well documented if you’re interested.

So, no Stoner was not that much of a better rider! The GOAT couldn’t even get that Ducati to go fast! Ducati had a great bike in 2007, but Honda and Yamaha quickly caught up and passed the Italians.

Personally, I would love to see a competitive Ducati.

 

Another season in the books.

Very good racing overall. Some real competition in the front ranks this year. The point battle lasting all the way up to the last race.
Very nice to see a new guy doing some amazing racing. The elbow dragging, dirt passing kid has many years left in him.

I won't say who won just yet. But I will say it has been a good season.

Next year won't be the same without Laguna. The Cali VFRWers will have to figure something else out, I guess.

 

Still have WSB and AMA at the end of September there

 

So far.. Hopefully the powers that be will not turn over any more racing to all those old farts in Spain who call way too many of the shots. IMO what they really want is to have MotoGP out of the States.

 

Over a hundred thousand on race day?, that is equal to, or greater than, a typical three day attendance total at Laguna. Business is business, no matter what the ages of the senior governing body are, and, you certainly can't blame their nationality for a lack of US support for two wheeled racing. Of course, making excuses and name calling is what the US is all about. Not only that, but since when did you really care? With the way your moods swing on this subject, I'm going to start calling you Billyjean and see if I can't get you a Tampax sponsorship........

 

I think that figure you are tossing out may be from one of your ladies in waiting my Princess.. May we quote you on "business is business" ? Very pithy.. and could become popular over time.

I am liking this BillyJean thing. We could be sisters. I never had a Princess for a sister.

Certainly you can't equate calling bunch of old farts in Spain with way too much power with your stated disgust with the US, or can we?

Maybe with all your influence you can maybe hold back on the Tampax sponsorship and cut a deal for Pampers for those old farts in Spain.

Do I really care? Sure do when all that time, effort and yes money was spent at Laguna to make the track accomodations and have those cocksuckers pull the rug out from under everyone, then yes, of course.

My question to you for the day is how often when you are in the stands at a track and running your mouth does somebody tell you to shut the fuck up and watch the race?

One more small thing just to remind you about mood swings. You posted up a pic of a gold colored wheel you had to wait for and just a day or so later was crying the blues about the rear wheel on the 2014 VFR.. At least try and remember a little of what you say from post to post..Your cred is on the slippery slope..

 

Will you two just fuck and get it over with, please?

 

Anyone watching Moto GP in Valencia testing for 2014?

 

MM is still hauling ass.



Tuesday's Test Times so far...

1. Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 30.679s (Lap 19/52)
2. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Yamaha Factory Racing (YZR-M1) 1m 30.935s (31/38)
3. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 31.031s (11/41)
4. Alvaro Bautista ESP Go&Fun Honda Gresini (RC213V) 1m 31.208s (41/49)
5. Stefan Bradl GER LCR Honda MotoGP (RC213V) 1m 31.239s (27/36)
6. Valentino Rossi ITA Yamaha Factory Racing (YZR-M1) 1m 31.646s (15/25)
7. Bradley Smith GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 1m 31.793s (33/54)
8. Andrea Iannone ITA Energy T.I. Pramac Racing (GP13) 1m 31.980s (40/42)
9. Pol Espargaro ESP Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 1m 32.093s (31/47)
10. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (GP13) 1m 32.556s (23/26)
11. Nicky Hayden USA Power Electronics Aspar (RCV1000R) 1m 32.582s (42/53)
12. Cal Crutchlow GBR Ducati Team (GP13) 1m 32.605s (15/28)
13. Yonny Hernandez COL Ignite Pramac Racing (GP13) 1m 32.800s (26/27)
14. Aleix Espargaro ESP NGM Forward Racing (FTR-M1) 1m 32.847s (17/18)
15. Michele Pirro ITA Ducati Test Team (GP13) 1m 32.937s (15/29)
16. Randy de Puniet FRA Paul Bird Motorsport (ART) 1m 33.833s (22/25)
17. Michael Laverty GBR Paul Bird Motorsport (PBM-ART) 1m 33.843s (28/29)
18. Colin Edwards USA NGM Forward Racing (FTR-M1) 1m 34.123s (14/14)
19. Scott Redding GBR Go&Fun Honda Gresini (RCV1000R) 1m 34.580s (13/18)
20. Mike di Meglio FRA Avintia Racing (FTR-Kawasaki) 1m 34.618s (29/42)

Fastest day one time:
Jorge Lorenzo ESP Yamaha 1m 31.257s

Official Valencia MotoGP records:
Best lap:
Marc Marquez ESP Honda 1m 30.803s (2013)
Fastest race lap:
Dani Pedrosa ESP Honda1m 31.628s (2013)

Fastest 2013 race laps by manufacturer:
Dani Pedrosa ESP Honda 1m 31.628s
Jorge Lorenzo ESP Yamaha 1m 31.701s
Nicky Hayden USA Ducati 1m 32.764s
Aleix Espargaro ESP ART 1m 33.323s
Hector Barbera ESP FTR-Kawasaki 1m 33.551s
Danilo Petrucci ITA Suter-BMW 1m 34.153s
Bryan Staring AUS FTR-Honda 1m 34.815s
Damian Cudlin GBR PBM-ART 1m 35.886s

 

And the all black with orange rims looks pretty cool too.

 

I'm in Texas and like the new COTA track. Went to MotoGP last year, and IF they would bother posting a schedule of races for 2014, I would be scheduling my vacation now.

So, anyone know when MotoGP and SBK, or even AMA are at COTA in 2014? maybe even a few car races, god forbid.

Larry

 

Even faster.
http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2013/Nov/131112datuesda.htm

 

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/2014+MotoGP+Calendar+Announcement

 

Ok but you'll have to buy a ticket just like everyone else. No special favors as this will be a democratic effort.

 

After a couple years of being stalked by Billyjean and seeing over and over his harrassment of not only myself, but many others, I felt it was about time to return the favor. Just like any racer worth his salt, ya get sick of being pushed around by others on the track. At some point ya just get your fill and decide it's time to put a little rubber on the leathers of the antagonist. My sincerest apologies if you don't have the intestinal fortitude to deal with what it takes to make that stand. And that goes for you other two as well.

 

I can sense an unhealthy rise in your blood pressure, Billyjean. The sudden loss of eloquence and increased use of expletives might indicate a more serious issue........

 

Exciting times in MotoGP? Not really?. Although there have been changes to the machinery run by a few of the teams and the pilots that ride them, it still looked like the same old story at the top of the timesheets at the first test of the 2014 MotoGP season. Not much of a surprise really, but is this telling the whole story? I figured a list would be a good way to look at it.

1.) One less liter of fuel for the "factory" machines
2.) Cal Crutchlow on the seemingly career killing Desmo
3.) Rossi ousting Jeremy Burgess as his crew chief in the hope that he might gain a half second a lap during the coming campaign. Much more of a compelling story than anything Rossi might do, or not do, on the track in 2014.
4.) Pol Easpargaro on the Tech3 M1 customer machine
5.) Colin Edwards, Aleix Espargaro, Scott Redding and Nicky Hayden on the new "open" class offerings from Yamaha and Honda
6.) Gigi Dall'Igna dumping Aprilia in favor of trying to resurrect the train wreck that has become the Ducati WSBK and MotoGP programs
7.) Exactly how fast can MM go in '14 with a year of experience and a 2013 championship already under his belt?
8.) Dani Pedrosa....'nough said
9.) Jorge Lorenzo is one tough SOB, how will he respond to the Repsol threat in '14?
10.) Luis Salom and Maverick Vinales moving up from Moto3 to the 2013 Moto2, championship winning, Pons HP Tuenti team in 2014
11.) Josh Herrin finally making the jail break from AMA obscurity to ride in Moto2 next year
12.) Alex Rinns vs. Alex Marquez in Moto3
13.) The performance of the new Honda Moto3 machine being created to counter the dominance of KTM
14.) Valentino Rossi's new Moto3 team with Romano Fenati
15.) Will Mahindra push on to further success in Moto3?

The seasons end so quickly and appear to be forgotten even quicker....measured in hours, instead of days or months. Upon further review, same old, same old? Absolutely not.

While we may mourn the loss of Laguna to the 2014 schedule, it is fair game to place blame as you see fit, there are still two US rounds to ease the pain. It won't be long before Asia snatches one, or both, of these rounds too. North America has never really embraced motorcycle racing, so it is only a matter of time. Money talks and bullshit walks.

Although it isn't the same atmosphere as being there, the best way to watch all three world championships is via MotoGP.com....and the price of admission is substantially more reasonable.

 

Why does this babble sound like the ramblings of rookie sports writers thinking they have the inside track using data and gossip tossed out by professional team managers then predicting that the old home team is gonna win the series or the superbowl?